Occupational Gender Segregation in Canada, 1981 -1 996: Overall, Vertical and Horizontal Segregation * zyxw BRADLEY BROOKS zyxwvut Dalhousie University JENNIFER JARMAN Dal housie University ROBERT M. BLACKBURN University zyxwv of Cambridge Cet article examine les changements survenus entre 1981 et 1996 dans la segregation hommes-femmes. Le niveau de segregation dans son ensemble a faiblement baisse, suivant en cela la tendance ob- servee depuis les annees soixante. La diminution se traduit par une decroissance de 41 % de la segregation verticale (equit6 salariale) mais par une augmentation de la segregation horizontale (differences autres que cette equite). Les femmes ont renforce leur point d’ancrage dans la main-d’aeuvre a plein temps et elargi l’etendue de leur partici- pation alors que celle des hommes dans des secteurs a temps partiel et moins prises a augmente, et que les emplois traditionnellement occupes par des hommes ont connu un declin et ont zyxwv vu l’arrivee des femmes. This article examines changes in gender segregation in Canada between 1981 and 1996. Overall segregation declined slightly. This is a continuation of a trend occurring since the 1960s. The decline com- prises a 41% decrease in vertical segregation, representing inequality associated with occupational earnings, and increases in horizontal segregation, difference without such inequality. Women strengthened their footholds in the full-time work force and diversified their breadth of participation, just as men’s participation in part-time and less desirable enclaves began to increase, and as traditionally male occupations experienced both decline and some influx of female workers. THE OCCUPATIONAL STRUCTURE IS zyxwv A DYNAMIC ENTITY that changes constantly in response to shifts in the nature of economic activity, changes in the available labour force, and changes in the legal and insti- tutional frameworks that govern workers and employers. Since the late * This research was supported by an SSHRC Research Grant (No. 410-97-0818). We would like to thank the three anonymous reviewers from The Canadian Review of Sociology and Anthropology for their helpful comments. This manuscript was first submitted in September 2001 and accepted in December 2002.